KARACHI: Veteran politician and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim has been laid to rest in the shrine of Hazrat Ghausul Haq Sarwar Nooh near grave of his father, Makhdoom Mohammad Zaman on Thursday evening.

His funeral was attended by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, opposition leader Khursheed Shah, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, former premier Raja Pervez Ashraf, and other PPP leaders.

He is survived by two widows, six sons and daughters.

“Such men are born once in a century”, said Raja Pervez Ashraf

Makhdoom Amin Fahim died in the early hours of Saturday at a local private hospital in Karachi, state-owned Radio Pakistan reported.

Fahim, 76, was diagnosed with blood cancer and had been in critical condition for some time. He was brought back to Pakistan recently via an air ambulance.

He had earlier undergone lump surgery in Berlin. He was to be taken to Boston in October but doctors dropped the plan after his condition did not permit. He remained under post-surgery treatment in London until he was flown to Dubai and then eventually to Karachi.

Fahim's body was earlier transported to his hometown of Hala, where his funeral prayers were to be offered in the afternoon.

Senior vice-chairman of the PPP, Fahim was a member of the National Assembly from Hala (NA-218). He was also spiritual leader of the Sarwari Jamaat.

Condolences started to pour in with several politicians voicing their grief over the demise of the senior leader.

PM expresses grief

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Makhdoom Amin Fahim, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House.

The prime minister has prayed for eternal peace and tranquillity for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family. it said.

Profile

Born on August 4, 1939 in Hala, Sindh, Makhdoom Amin Fahim hailed from an influential feudal family.

He inherited the PPP’s politics from his late father Makhdoom Mohammad Zaman, who was one of the founder members of the party and a senior vice-president. Fahim was also a trusted aide of PPP’s former chief, Benazir Bhutto, especially during her years in self-imposed exile.

He graduated from Sindh University in 1961 and won his first National Assembly seat in 1970. Fahim was elected to the House seven times.

Fahim also served as a minister with various portfolios during PPP governments. He served as a Federal Minister of Communication (1988-90) and Minister of Housing and Public Works (1994-96) during Benazir’s two terms and recently served as Federal Minister for Commerce.

After Benazir was assassinated, Fahim felt sidelined by Asif Ali Zardari. Apart from being passed over for the position of party chief, Fahim’s name was also dropped as PPP’s candidate for prime minister in 2008. Despite the snub, Fahim stuck to the party and was later appointed federal commerce minister.